Aldermen To Vote On Plan To Transfer Park Land To City For Obama Library Bid
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Aldermen were expected to give preliminary approval on Wednesday to the Emanuel administration's plan to allow the city to take control of Park District land to be used for the Barack Obama Presidential Library, if the president and first lady choose the University of Chicago's bid for the facility.
An ordinance co-sponsored by most Chicago aldermen would give the city control over parcels in Washington Park and Jackson Park, the two locations where the University of Chicago has proposed building the Barack Obama Presidential Library and Museum.
The city would only take control of the land if President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama pick the U of C's bid over competing proposals from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Columbia University in New York City, and the University of Hawaii in Honolulu.
At a joint meeting of three City Council committees, aldermen aim to remove any potential roadblocks to bringing the library to Chicago, after the Barack Obama Foundation voiced concerns that the city does not control the land at either of the sites proposed by the U of C.
Aldermen are expected to endorse the mayor's plan at Wednesday's meeting, and then send the measure to the full City Council for a vote next week.
However, open space advocates have voiced opposition to the plan to use public park space for the library, and could take the fight to court.
UIC has proposed using vacant land owned by the city in North Lawndale to bring the museum to Chicago, and the city has pledged to transfer the land to UIC if its bid is selected.
Columbia University has been seen as the most formidable opposition to Chicago in the competition to land the library.